Copenhagen Amsterdam Paris 2018

Copenhagen Amsterdam Paris 2018

Ride a single stage or both

Friday 06 July, 2018 to Sunday 29 July, 2018

Tour sold out – waitlist open

Join AllTrails in 2018 on our legendary, annual European expedition!

We begin this all-new route in Copenhagen, Denmark, arguably one of the most cycling friendly countries in Europe. As we wind our way through the flat, cycle-friendly terrain of north east Europe you will discover a route featuring historic destinations including Hamburg, Amsterdam, Gouda, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges before crossing into France and finishing in Paris, city of lights, in time to enjoy the buzz of the Champs Elysees finish of the TDF. Highlights off the bike include a boat trip around Hamburg port, a canal cruise and food tour in Amsterdam, a brewery visit and tasting in Bruge as well as a guided walk of the city, a visit to the inspirational Roubaix Velodrome and a guided tour of Villers-Bretonneux in the 100th anniversary year since the allied forces recaptured the town. This amazing tour will take in some wonderful locations on and off the well-trodden tourist path (with a few cobblestones thrown in for good measure).

The tour includes all accommodation and breakfasts, 16 group dinners, all tours as outlined above, champagne toast in the heart of Paris, jersey, experienced local guides, support vehicle, maps and route assistance, daily luggage transfers, bike mechanic assistance and plenty of bonhomie!

The annual AllTrails European Expedition ensures that you get to see some of the best highlights of Europe. Yet what you’ll remember most will be a picturesque village, or an afternoon spent with your tour friends reliving the days ride over an aperitif, or a section of breathtaking cycling through the countryside, or the hospitality of our fantastic local tour leaders. That’s why exploring with us on the annual AllTrails expedition is the best European cycle touring you will ever do.

Book today or give us a call on 03 9802 4465 – we look forward to having a chat.

Our Rome to Paris ride featured in New York’s Mens Journal as one of the 3 top global epic long distance cycle tours

Why Choose AllTrails for Your European Cycling Trip?

Experts:

No short-cuts! Famous for extensive experience, preparation and organisation

Service:

Our owners are on tour with you, along with outstanding local guides

Quality:

From great accom & meals to our local guides’ knowledge and advice

Support:

Our Australian-based office is your easy-to-contact place to call for any questions

Camaraderie:

AllTrails cyclists are fun, positive and supportive – and waiting for you to join the community

Tour sold out – waitlist open

Check out some footage from our Rome to Paris rides:

Highlights

Experience Copenhagen – the ‘poster-city’ for cycling integrated into lifestyle

Lovely bike paths and gentle riding in Denmark and the Netherlands

Beautiful cycling around Rodvig on the Baltic Sea

Beer factory of Maribo

Lubeck UNESCO World Heritage Site

Niederegger Marzipan – some of the best in the world

Rest Day Habour Cruise in Hamburg

Amsterdam’s canals, culture, art and architecture

Stage 2 Amsterdam to Paris:

Rest day food & canal tour Amsterdam

Gouda (yes, the place of the famous cheese)

Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage Site

Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges

Rest Day Brewery Tour Bruges

Visit to the famous Roubaix Velodrome

Villers Bretonneux Australian War Memorial

Finish in Paris with a champagne toast

Finish in Paris a day before the Tour de France arrival

Imagine waking up in a beautiful little European hotel, the breakfast presented beautifully and tasting even better, before mounting your road bike and heading off over the hills or perhaps making your way through rolling countryside with a group of other like-minded cyclists. We have recommended meeting points up the road for your morning tea and lunch stops so that you can cycle with other riders of the same speed if you wish, or go at your own pace, navigating by chalk arrows on the ground, or a GPS if you have one. You will also see a support vehicle 2-5 times per day as they drive the route to ensure cyclist safety and pick up cyclists if required.

The terrain on this tour is relatively flat all the way, however there are a few long days of 100km+ to provide a good challenge. Tour Leaders will work with the group before each day to identify pickup and drop off points for those who may not wish to ride the entire day’s route and would like to relax and absorb the scenery from the bus. Cyclists don’t have to ride in a group – the route is marked and suggested cafes and towns are pointed out for your snack and lunch stops but you are free to ride and stop where you wish.

For tour participants who can cycle at an average speed of 20-25kph on flat terrain we expect a normal day’s cycling to finish between 12-3pm where you will then have the afternoon and long summer evenings to explore the village or relax at the hotel. An evening meal is often provided, leaving other evenings for your choice of meal and restaurants.

The memories forged on a trip like this will last forever. Call us today to book or ask for a DVD of our past European rides for a great insight into what this tour will be like. 03 9802 4465.

Feel free to contact us at any time through our website ‘Contact Us’ page, phone or email. We love what we do and want to get you on the best bike ride for you. Speak to us about what’s on your mind and we’ll help you make your decision.

Training for a long distance tour

You really need to be a reasonably keen cyclist, however not necessarily fast, but consistent. If you can sit on an average speed of 20-25 km/hr on the flat, and build your kilometre total distance in training to gradually attain about 100km + a day for 2 days straight, that will usually put you in a good position to be ready for most of our long distance tours. We have a training schedule specific to each ride which we send to you after you place your deposit, however we are more than happy to send this to you earlier when you are considering the tour – just ask us for a copy and we will get it out to you straight away.

Sharing a room as a solo traveller

We often have cyclists come on our rides who are travelling alone. If so, you may pay the Single Supplement price to have your own room, or you can put your name on our ‘Twin Share Request List’ and we will pair you with another solo traveller of the same gender in twin share accommodation if we have another similar request. There is a good chance that we will be able to partner you up with somebody else. If not, the single supp price will apply which will give you your own room for the entire tour. Contact us anytime to have a chat and check twin share availability – we may already have a match for you.

Snorers can enjoy their own room

If you are a chronic snorer or have other habits that may affect your fellow room-mates we suggest booking your own room (single supplement cost). This is not just a courtesy to your fellow travelling companions, but will also give you the space & privacy you need to enjoy your sleep after a long day on the bike.

Carrying personal items on the bike

We suggest you carry a spare tube, a full water bottle and your own personal goods such as phone, money and rain gear, on your bike with you. We transport your luggage, drawstring day bags, food & extra water. A more detailed list of things to bring and not bring is on our ‘Tour Preparation Guide’ which is sent out to you before the ride.

Speak to a past client

We will be happy to give you the names and telephone numbers of people who have participated in the ride or a similar ride to the one which you are considering. Where possible we will provide you with the details of someone within your city or state.
Another good place to look is our ‘Testimonials’ page.

Group info session

Contact us if you would like to find out about booking an info session for your group of friends, or if you would like to find out about a travel talk happening near you in the future. Be inspired, hear from the experts, learn more about a destination and even book your tour on the night.

Changing or cancelling a tour

Should you wish to change your booking with AllTrails to a different tour, there will be a very reasonable service charge. We try to keep this figure as low as possible to allow flexibility where we can as we want to make sure that you get on the right tour for you. For cancellation and refund policies for your tour click the ‘T&Cs’ tab on the relevant tour page of our website.

If you need to cancel your tour, a travel insurance policy will cover cancellation fees due to most unforeseen events. This is why we provide links to travel insurance options and highly recommend that you investigate and purchase travel insurance for all our rides (including Australian domestic tours) at the time of deposit and ensure that it includes coverage for cancellation fees if for some reason you are not able to travel (see Travel Insurance FAQ). For our international tours we require all participants to have Travel Insurance to assist you in the event of a medical emergency, lost baggage, personal liability, cancelled tour or other trip related issues.

What sorts of people join our rides?

People from all parts of Australia and also some overseas guests. Ages generally range from 35 – 75 with the average age about 50-60 years old. Adventurous cyclists usually about 40% women & 60% men with a mix of singles, friends and couples.

Buying a new bike – what to consider

If you are purchasing a new bike for this ride or wanting to make some upgrades here a few points to consider:

Bike set up: Unless you are accustomed to riding long distances or are very flexible set your bike up for comfort rather than optimum aerodynamics. A more comfortable upright position is most easily achieved by raising the handle bar and moving the seat forward.

Wheels: Do not go too light. High-end road bikes often allow you to choose different wheel sets or if you are considering upgrading, the lightest wheels might be the fastest, but they are not always the strongest. The heavier you are the more important this is. Cheaper wheels are heavier and generally have more spokes, but are also quite robust and easy to repair, so if this is your price bracket then there is not too much to worry about. If you looking at getting some fast wheels and you are over 90kg ask your bike shop for advice and even do some research online or within your bike community.

Tyres: Durability is the most important feature for long distance rides. When choosing your tyres look for features like anti-puncture and Kevlar lining. A harder rubber also allows you to get more kilometres out of each tyre. A popular choice amongst our cyclists are the Continental Ultra Gatorskins in either the 25mm, 28mm or 32mm width. Generally the wider the tyre the more comfortable, but check how wide a tyre your rims, forks and frame can accommodate before purchasing.

Gearing: As a rule; the more gears you have the easier it is to climb hills. The standard configuration of gears found on road bikes does not suit everyone. If you find yourself running out of gears while climbing, needing to get out of the saddle to get over a hill or ride with a high cadence it might be worth considering one or both of these options. Replace the cassette with a larger one (more teeth) and/or get a compact crank. A compact crack tries to do what the triple chain ring crank does in just two chain rings. If you already have a triple, this is not for you. The compact crank slightly reduces your big chain ring size and significantly reduces your small chain ring size making it much easier to climb hills and spin your legs faster rather than harder.

Travel insurance for international rides

Yes, yes, yes. Make sure that you are covered for every country that you are travelling to and ensure that you are covered from and including the day you leave and arrive back home. Due to the nature of our rides we are sometimes in remote areas during the course of a ride – ensure that you have medical insurance that would cover the cost of a helicopter ambulance to transport you to the nearest hospital. We recommend getting your travel insurance in place immediately after you book your ride so that you are covered for unforeseen events which may lead to you having to cancel your trip.

Visa for Europe?

We will send you a Pre Departure Info document upon booking with more details on all aspects of your travel including visas – let us know if you would like us to send you the document now. In general, if you are on an ordinary Australian passport with no special circumstances (eg. criminal convictions) no visa is required when travelling for holiday purposes for a length of time under 90 days to the countries that we will visit in 2019. Two of the seven countries have no visa requirement for tourism purposes under 90 days and the other five countries are in the European Schengen Area. This means that entry to one country gives you entry to them all. Be aware that the 90 day limit runs concurrently across the whole of the Schengen zone and the countdown begins when entering any of the signatory countries. It does not reset when travelling into another country covered by the Schengen agreement. This is important if you are considering staying in Europe before or after the ride for more than 90 days total. A visa is a form of permission for a non-citizen to enter, transit or remain in a particular country. We do not issue visas for overseas travel and cannot provide definitive information on visas. Only the representatives of the countries you plan to visit can provide up-to-date information about their visa requirements. For all countries, contact your nearest embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit well in advance of travel. For Australian passport holders, additional advice can be found on the Smartraveller website www.smartraveller.gov.au.

Bike Hire in Europe

Yes, you can hire a bike and we encourage you to do so. Hiring a bike will help you avoid hassles that arise on occasion with travelling on airlines with bicycles and also leave you free to enjoy pre and post tour travel without a bicycle as luggage. For those bringing their own bike, note that we may need to transfer bike bags and hard case bike boxes to the end of your ride at your own expense – contact us for more info. Our local operators have a great range of light weight titanium Van Nicholas hire bikes, which are high quality road bikes with drop down or flat handlebars. It’s your choice to add a small rack on the back for camera, jacket and any other personal items. You can also bring your own seat to give you that little bit of ‘home comfort’ and/or pedals if you wish. Click here for more info on hire bikes.

Safe cycling in Europe?

European motorists have a great reputation for being cyclist-considerate. We at AllTrails have a great safety record however cyclists have to play their part in keeping well over to the side of the road where possible. You will also be briefed before each day’s ride pointing out parts of the road that may get narrow or have any known hazards.

Meals and food in Europe

Always a big part of any cycling holiday! Our emphasis is on fresh local food and a balanced diet with plenty of carbohydrates, proteins, fruit and veggies catering for a cycling holiday. We always try to include as many local specialties, delicacies and flavours as possible. Our local team can cater to most dietary requirements, however please be aware that this can sometimes be a little more challenging in Europe and you may need to exercise some patience in this area – feel free to contact us if you wish to discuss further. We provide daily quality breakfasts and most dinners. You will generally purchase your own lunches and some evening meals however there are plenty of great bakeries and cafes along the way for you to pick up lunches and snacks as you wish (our team will give you recommendations).

Accommodation in Europe

Most hotels have been inspected and used on previous tours by our local guides, however on these expedition trips there may be some (very few) that have not been inspected other than online investigations. Hotels are generally of a good 3-4 star standard however can be of varying quality depending on the location and what’s available in the region. While creature comforts such as air-conditioning are sought, and most often found, we cannot guarantee this on every night of the tour. All rooms have ensuite facilities. In the smaller villages or more rural areas we often get lovely and interesting accommodation full of character and personality. We choose accommodation that is bicycle friendly, with good restaurants and near to town centres.

Weather on the Danube

Average high temperatures along our route range between 23-29 degrees celsius. Previous years experience in Europe over this same period suggests that some days will be very hot and you may get the odd day of rain, however most days should be beautiful weather in the mid 20’s. Of course, we can’t control the weather however this adds to the adventure and excitement of your travel experience! For more specific weather and climate information visit www.worldweather.org

Packing for Europe

Limit your luggage to two medium-sized pieces. The best combination is a medium-sized suitcase on wheels and a small or medium carry-on bag, such as a backpack or a small duffel bag. Your baggage should be clearly labelled and kept to a reasonable minimum. Luggage limits on airlines are strictly enforced and space on vehicles is limited. Most economy class flights booked through Travel Agents (domestic and international) have a luggage limit of 20 kilograms per person and usually this can include your bike if you are not renting one in Europe. You will be required to carry your own luggage at times so you should be capable of carrying your own bags up and down stairs. A good guide is to try to keep it under 15kg. If you are doing lots of shopping during your travels, it may be necessary for you to forward any excess to the city where your journey concludes, or ship purchases directly home.

Why book with us?

We only run approximately 10 tours per year. This makes every tour as special to us as it is to you because we are not repeating the same rides over and over again week-in week-out. Every tour is meticulously planned and we are just as excited to be there as you – there is no bulk production-line here! On most occasions the owner-operators of the business will be on tour with you looking after everyone on the ride. The safety and confidence that comes with that is one of many great reasons to book your cycling holiday with us.
AllTrails is a proud Australian owned company with a great reputation in the bicycle tour industry. We have earned that reputation through hard work and dedication and we sincerely care about every person on every tour. Our large community of loyal AllTrails riders that keep coming back year after year are testament to the high standard of tours that we provide. We consider ourselves the best in the business and we always make sure that our tours represent great value at a fair price.

Agreement:

I have read and understand the terms and conditions of this event (see instructions below) and wish to enter this ALLTRAILS BICYCLE TOURS Pty Ltd event at my own risk. I understand that participation in this ride involves riding on public roads used by other traffic, and in doing this, I am aware of the potential dangers, both on and off public roads. In my judgement, I am capable and competent to participate safely in this ride. I hereby release, exempt and indemnify AllTrails and any of its contractors, local guides, officers, directors, employees, agents, staff, sponsors, volunteers and all other persons involved in the organisation of this event, from all actions, costs, demands, proceedings, and claims whatsoever made or taken by any person, arising out of my participation in the ride.

I accept that I am to wear a helmet, abide by road laws, and understand the organisers have no responsibility for my property damaged or stolen. I agree to take responsibility, and make appropriate payment if necessary, for any damage to others property that I cause including motel rooms, motel property, AllTrails property or other cyclist’s property.

I agree to carefully consider my insurance options and take note of AllTrails’ policy strongly recommending Cyclist Insurance and Travel Insurance to all cyclists on Australian tours, and the compulsory Travel Insurance policy for international tours.

AllTrails reserves the right to change the advertised ride and itinerary due to road works, bad weather, unsafe conditions, or any unforeseen circumstances. I declare I am 18 years of age or older or am the legal guardian of persons under 18 years old in my care. I consent to publication, for promotional purposes, of any photos or video footage taken of myself or others in my group, while taking part in this event without recourse or compensation to me.

I consent to AllTrails processing personal information about me and other members of my party. AllTrails may hold my name, address and other details supplied on their database. This information will be used to make my tour arrangements and to send me information about AllTrails and its tours. In order to make my tour arrangements AllTrails may need to pass on my details to companies and individuals inside and/or outside Australia, where less stringent data protection controls may be in place. I understand this and agree to the passing of necessary information to required third parties such as hotels and local tour companies.

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Full terms and conditions for each ride are available via our booking system (directions to find them are below). These terms and conditions will also be sent to you with your confirmation email after booking.

To find the terms & conditions of this ride:

Click any ‘Book This Ride’ button on this webpage such as the one below (right click ‘open in new tab’)

Enter at least 1 participant on any package, then scroll down and click ‘BOOK NOW’

Click the ‘SKIP’ button

Scroll to the bottom of the questions page and click ‘terms and conditions’ hyperlink